Noorbanu - Natural Ruby and Rose Quartz Silver Earrings

From the Rani collection by Orah Jewels and Crafts, earrings that let the stone carry the scale rather than the metalwork. Noorbanu pairs raw Ruby and Rose Quartz from Afghanistan on silver drops, the two stones connected in an asymmetric arrangement that follows the natural outline of each piece of rough rather than forcing them into a standard shape.

Afghan Ruby from the Badakhshan region is corundum at its hardest and most chromium-rich, producing the warm pinkish red that characterizes stones from this part of Central Asia as opposed to the cooler, more saturated red of Burmese material. In its raw state, as used in Noorbanu, the crystal retains the original surface texture of formation, including natural planes and internal light play that a polished or faceted surface would eliminate. Rose Quartz carries its soft pink from microscopic fibrous inclusions of dumortierite within the silicon dioxide structure, which scatter light internally and produce the stone's characteristic cloudy, diffused color rather than a clean transparent pink. Together, the two stones occupy the pink-red spectrum from opposite directions, ruby warm and dense, rose quartz pale and scattered, the pairing producing a depth that neither stone could achieve alone. The stones in Noorbanu were selected for scale and shape compatibility so that the pair reads as intentional, not accidental.

The earrings drop 3.5 inches, long enough to be visible when the hair is down and significant when worn with an updo. Despite the length, the stones are light and the silver minimal, so the earrings do not pull at the ear lobe. The movement of the stones when worn adds to the overall presence of the piece.

Made at the Orah Jewels facility in Lahore. Raw ruby and rose quartz sourced from Afghanistan, natural and unenhanced. One pair.

Stones: Natural raw Ruby and Rose Quartz (Afghanistan)
Metal: Sterling Silver
Size: 3.5 inches drop
Collection: Rani